Top three ADAS myths and the facts that “bust” them 

By Pam Oakes, MACS Curriculum Developer & Technical Instructor – Published on 8/5/2025

It is everyone’s dream: Get in the car on Monday morning and let it do the driving for you while grabbing a little more needed shuteye; regen from weekend events. But we are not there yet. From Level 0 to heavy-Level 2/light Level 3 on today’s road, we have a long way to go before Level 5 (or in General Motor’s world: Level 6).  

You must admit the progress – so far – with advanced driver assist systems (ADAS) have transformed how we navigate our daily commute. With these advancements can come confusion on how far we can safely take autonomous functionality and incorporate it into our daily drive.  

Here are the top three, more common myths consumers have regarding ADAS and how you further educate your customers:  

1) “If my vehicle has ADAS, it can drive itself.”  

False. Even if you own a Tesla – as the driver – it is your responsibility to always keep alert to take over navigation duties. Even though features – like on other vehicles – “watch” for other vehicles and obstacles. There are quadrillions upon quadrillions of machine learning to perform and perfect before our cars and light trucks become Herbie the Love Bug, and it is the driver’s responsibility to pay attention and take over on a moment’s notice.  

2) “All ADAS systems are the same.” 

False. The advanced alert systems are based on manufacture design – more-so Tier 1 design. Same-named parts with different parameters. It is all a learning curve to what will be standard…eventually.  

3) “ADAS is ‘working’ all the time.” 

False. Again, depending upon year, make, and model (YMM) is dependent upon how the sensor-fusion reacts. Some sensor applications do not “play” well in inclement weather or after dark. And, of course, the functionality changes from one year to the next; a 2023 ADAS model does not mean that its twin (produced six months later) will have the same sensors, locations. This is a work in progress. See Figures 1, 2. 

The way your customer perceives ADAS – and their understanding on how the systems work – will determine your success in the bay when it comes to repairing a failed or damaged sensor. Keep your customers informed and guide them on how to use autonomous tech sensibly.  

Figure 1: The dashboard message shown here (on a 2017 Toyota Corolla) alerts the driver that lane departure alert is turned on and steering assist is active. Credit: Steve Schaeber 

Figure 2: This message alerts the driver that the vehicle’s lane departure alert is unavailable when driving below approximately 32 miles per hour. Credit: Steve Schaeber 

About the author: Pam Oakes is a curriculum developer and technical instructor at MACS. Pam provides automotive training at all levels, including train-the-trainer, professional technicians, and scholastic programs, with over 20 years of hands-on experience running a 12-bay shop in Florida. She has been a MACS Section 609 proctor since 2016 with additional expertise including ADAS calibration, fleet training, and technical curriculum development for major corporations. You can reach Pam at poakes@macsmobileairclimate.org

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